Amplify Your Leadership Results in 2018 By Using the Law of Addition

By, Allison Liddle, Executive Director John Maxwell Team

What if there was one way you could amplify your results as a leader in 2018? What if there was a simple question you could ask yourself daily that could transform how your team?

Guess what? The answer to both of these questions is found in my favorite chapter called The Law of Addition in The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John Maxwell.

John says, “The bottom line in leadership isn’t how far we advance ourselves but how far we advance others. Leaders add value by serving others.”  And by serving I don’t mean that you are spending all day, every day doing other people’s work for them. By service, I’m simply referring to the act of thinking about ways to add value to others. To serve them means to utilize your innate abilities and strengths to help them in some way.

If you think about it this way all relationships add or subtract from a person’s life. Who do you have in your life right now that is adding value to your life? How do they make you feel? You probably feel energized, excited, happy, inspired or any other positive feeling when you are with them. Now imagine that you become someone that adds to someone else’s life. You can be this type of person and it doesn’t take a lot of time or effort.

I think about when I met one of my fellow John Maxwell Team members named Kellie George. We had talked on the phone a few times, but I’d never met her. Then I attended a conference and I was sitting in our first workshop and a lady comes in just as the workshop starts and sits down right next to me. Guess who it was? Kellie! There were hundreds of people at this conference and at the first workshop the one person that I wanted to meet in person sat right next to me. She exemplifies the law of addition. If you have the honor of meeting Kellie George you’ll she’s is always pouring into other people. She shares what she knows in hopes that if she shares it will add value. And it does! I get so excited whenever she and I start talking about a new opportunity or how we’re growing ourselves. As John Maxwell says, “A true leader serves others.”

You may want to write this question down:

Are you making things better for the people who follow you?

·       Name 3 people in your personal life closet to you.

·       Next to each name, write 3 ways you show them you care. If you can’t write 3 ways you show them you care daily, write 3 things you could do.

I did this in my personal life because I believe that you need to have a strong family before you begin anything else. I wrote down my husband, son, and daughter.

I think that it is easy to show your children that you care about them, so I did them first. Logan is 5 years old. He thrives on words of affirmation and cuddles. So, that is how we start each day. Cuddling on the couch and I tell him how amazing he is. I kiss his little bed head and snuggle with him. I try to do this every day. On the days that I don’t do this you can definitely tell the difference in his demeanor. He acts out more and I find myself correcting his behavior. However, on the days when he feels loved and cared for he lives up to the expectation that I set for him right when he woke up and is a sweet boy during the day.

You can make this list with the people you work with too. John Maxwell says, “If you desire to add value by serving others, you will become a better leader.”

Are you making things better for the people who follow you?

·       Name 3 people in your professional life closet to you.

·       Next to each name, write 3 ways you show them you care. If you can’t write 3 ways you show them you care daily, write 3 things you could do.

Remember what John teaches We add value to others when we truly value others. Darryl Hartley-Leonard from Hyatt Hotels says, “When a person moves into a position of authority, he or she gives up the right to abuse people.” Tomorrow when you walk into work. Look at each of the members of your team. Greet them, ask them this simple question, “how can I serve you today?” You’ll amplify your results as a leader, you’ll show the people that you lead that you care about them, and you’ll transform the culture of your organization. Leaders who add value by serving believe in their people before their people believe in them and serve others before they are served.